Most of you car-folk out there have heard of the Cannonball Run races that took place throughout the 70’s. But you are much less likely to have heard of the US Express, another coast to coast race that existed for four years following the last Cannonball in 1979. Very little information exists about it today due to the highly secretive and serious nature of the race, but it is this race upon which 32 Hours 7 Minutes is based.
Rick Doherty, Race Organizer
C.R. Lee at the helm
Here is an acceptance letter into the race and an information packet sent to participant C.R. Lee from Rick Doherty, the race organizer. This is the kind of letter I expect to get when I am invited to join the Skulls (which I’m banking on happening very soon). I love the cryptic way it’s all handled, and I’m totally onboard with the “Run silent, run swift….until we meet again…” sign-off. These guys weren’t kidding around! You can download a PDF of the acceptance letter, or view the gallery below.
Cool, and cryptic indeed. I’ll make
myself a t-shirt with the second
document one of these days. Yet the
“belonging to the most select group
of auto enthusiat in the world” is
not what I’d call modest.
“More people dream of Cannonballing across america than can possibly afford the time, training, and resources to do it safely.” True indeed!!
So glad these were kept. They’re a great part of U.S. automotive history.
This is really, really, really cool…
I love the research you Guys have put into this movie. It’s sure to be an excellent one!
this is great seriously
I’ve already posted this link on Alex’s site
but for those of you who don’t get there
here’s my view of what should be the
film’s t-shirt…
http://www.avalancher.com/tshirt-blue-32h7m-a.jpg
… not only because I think that the little car
on the US Express logo makes it a bit childish,
but mostly because this picture of the 308
overtaking a truck (extracted from the movie’s
trailer) gives an incredible feeling of speed.
Anyway, Cory you’re the boss, it’s up to you.
On a totally different matter the US Express
most probably inspired a TV Show very popular
in France since 2 years. It’s a game called
“Pékin Express” (Pékin is Beijing) where the
players have to cross a continent from sea to
sea, hitch-hiking their way with 1 euro per day.
Because they didn’t have the USE logo to copy
they used the one from the Cannonball, as can
be seen on this comparison…
http://www.avalancher.com/cannonball-pekin-express.jpg
These guys give me so much inspration!
When I read about the US Express in a Datsun Club magazine in the summer of 1983, I thought this was the opportunity to do something I always dreamed of since reading about it and keeping the cover of a 1974 Car & Driver magazine with the picture of a group of drivers on a roof in Manhattan ready to do the Cannonball Run. Dreams do come ture for those who are positive.
I discussed it with my best friend Arthur and we decided to go for it, we contacted the US Express and were accepted.
The car used was a brand new 1983 944 Porsche - perfect under warranty in case the engine seizes or anything else breaks (no mechanical problems).
I was excited to get accepted and never regreted the experience, having joined a small elite group of individuals who are car crazy. I still have the Sneeky Pete trophy and for not getting any speeding tickets though we were pulled over in Texas.
Don
Looking forward to the moviw premiere.
Cool look back into ‘82.
I remember sitting in my downtown LA office and reading a blurb in Autoweek about this soon to be run race. There was a contact name and address - and off went a letter. Never expected to hear yes - and when it came - wow - what a rush - and only just the beginning of 3 years of rush! Now I needed to find a co-driver - Enter Steve who if I’m going to take a guess has a few colorful quotes in the film…. More on Steve in a later post - Looking forward to the finished film - but as a memory - it’s never going to be finished!
PS - the Led Foot was Steve’s nick name for me - I guess for this that’s a good thing!